The Cincinnati Bengals are staring down the barrel of a 4-10 season, officially eliminated from playoff contention and facing some hard questions about the future. Injuries have played a role - most notably Joe Burrow missing a significant chunk of the year - but even with their franchise quarterback back under center, the Bengals have managed just one win in their last three games. That’s not the kind of late-season push you’d expect from a team with this much talent on offense.
This marks the third straight year Cincinnati will miss the postseason. For a team that not long ago was a legitimate Super Bowl contender, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
The expectations are higher now, and rightly so. With weapons like Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Joe Mixon (when healthy), the Bengals should be doing more than just playing out the string in December.
Naturally, the spotlight has turned to head coach Zac Taylor and director of player personnel Duke Tobin. Fans are frustrated, and many are calling for major changes. But according to reports, that’s not the direction the organization is heading.
Inside the building, Tobin’s job appears to be rock solid. He’s viewed as part of the Bengals’ inner circle - someone who has the trust of ownership and is seen as family by the Brown and Blackburn families who run the team. There’s no indication that his role is in jeopardy, and the expectation is that he’ll be the one tasked with pulling the Bengals out of this current slump.
As for Taylor, his relationship with Burrow remains a key factor. The two are closely aligned, and with two years left on Taylor’s contract, the sense is that the Bengals aren’t eager to make a change. Continuity still holds value in Cincinnati, especially when it comes to the quarterback-head coach dynamic.
But here’s the reality: the Bengals’ offense hasn’t lived up to its billing. The play-calling has been inconsistent at best, and the unit has struggled to find rhythm, even when Burrow has been healthy. That’s on Taylor.
And while the offense has underperformed, the defense has arguably been the bigger problem - a unit that’s lacked identity and failed to step up in big moments. That falls under Tobin’s umbrella. The roster construction just hasn’t delivered the kind of balance you need to compete deep into the season.
So while the Bengals may be preaching stability, it’s fair to question whether standing pat is the right move. With Taylor and Tobin expected to return in 2026, fans are left wondering if real progress is possible without a shake-up.
The talent is there - that much is clear. But without changes in leadership or philosophy, it’s hard to see a clear path forward for a team that should be doing a lot more than watching the playoffs from home.